Exodus 4: A Reluctant Deliverer — A Resolute God Pt 11
The Forbearance of God Toward Human Weakness
(Exodus 4:10-17)
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10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
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11 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
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12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
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13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
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14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
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15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.
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16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.
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17 “You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”
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The Core Issue:
* ++The issue is not ability.
* ++The issue is not opportunity.
* ++The issue… is surrender.
* ++God has shown you who He is.
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* ++He has spoken clearly.
* ++He has given you everything you need.
* ++The question is not what God will do…
* ++Delayed obedience is still disobedience
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Human Weakness Often
Becomes an Excuse to Resist God
* ++Moses objects on the basis of his inability to speak well.
* ++Yet Stephen said in Acts 7:22: “Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.”
* ++The literal wording: “I am heavy of mouth and heavy of tongue.”
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The Real Issue Was This
* ++Moses still thought he was the deliverer.
* ++He thought everything depended on him.
* ++He thought he had to persuade Pharaoh, overpower Egypt, and carry the success on his own shoulders.
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God Is Sovereign Over the Weaknesses We Fear (v. 11)
* ++God does not deny Moses’ weakness.
* ++He claims sovereignty over it.
* ++In essence God says: “Moses… even if you do have a speech problem… who do you think made your mouth?”
* ++Who made you? Who determined your frame… your mind… your personality… your abilities… your limitations… your struggles?
* ++Was God absent when He made you? Or sovereign?
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God’s Presence Is Greater
Than Human Inadequacy (v. 12)
* ++He does not build Moses’ self-esteem.
* ++He does not flatter Moses.
* ++He does not remove every weakness Moses fears.
* ++God never answered Moses by exalting Moses.
* ++He answered Moses by revealing Himself.
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What Moses Needed vs. What God Gave
++Moses thought he needed eloquence.
God said: “You need Me.”
++Moses thought he needed confidence.
God said: “You need My presence.”
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++Moses thought the mission depended on his ability.
God was teaching him: the mission depended on divine sovereignty.
++God never once said, “Moses, trust yourself.”
++The world says “Believe in yourself.”
++God says “Believe Me.”
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The staff becomes a serpent (vv.2-9)
++Ordinary shepherd’s staff --> snake
++Moses runs in fear
++“Take it by the tail” -->becomes staff again
++Key Truth: God has authority over what you fear
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The Hand becomes leprous (vv.6-8)
++Clean hand -> leprous (severe, visible disease)
++Put back in cloak -> fully restored
++Key Truth: God reveals our true condition (sin)
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The Nile's water becomes blood (v.9)
++Water from Nile --> blood
++Nile = Egypt’s source of life, economy, stability
++Key Truth: God has authority over what you trust
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The Three Signs Together
++Staff: Authority over what you fear
++Hand: Reveals what you are (sinful condition)
++Nile: Authority over what you trust
++Unified message: Trust and obey God
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